The Epiphany of an Explorer (The Brothers of the Aristocracy Book 3)by Linda Rae Sande Genre: Historical Romance

A man only gets one chance to find his Aphrodite … but what if she finds him first?

When archeologist Dr. Stewart Jones, a duke, goes missing and is feared dead while searching for an important Greek artifact, explorer Harold Tennison, Earl of Everly, is pressed into service by fellow members of the Royal Society to find him. Since Harry has already planned an expedition to the Cyclades to search for rare birds and flowers, he sets off for the Aegean to begin his quest.

On his last visit to Delos, Harry was blessed with a visit from a young woman—his very own version of Aphrodite rising from the sea to regard him with an arched eyebrow and a simple question that left him so discombobulated, he could barely speak.

Born of a Mykonian mother and a British duke, Lady Estelle isn’t particularly comfortable in either world. With her father’s recent disappearance and no prospects for marriage, Stella may end up stranded on Mykonos. She spends her days assisting her uncle in his hunt for Greek treasures he can sell to visiting Europeans. At night, she remembers the bespectacled earl who nearly broke her foot during a waltz back in London.

When Harry arrives on Mykonos to begin his hunt for the duke and to resume his own research, he’ll have to learn far more about mythology, antiquities, and Greek goddesses than he bargained for. The search may be worth it, though, but only if he ends up with his very own Aphrodite in “The Epiphany of an Explorer”.

A self-described nerd and lover of science, Linda Rae spent many years as a published technical writer specializing in 3D graphics workstations, software and 3D animation (her movie credits include SHREK and SHREK 2). An interest in genealogy led to years of research on the Regency era and a desire to write fiction based in that time.

A fan of action-adventure movies, she can frequently be found at the local cinema. Although she no longer has any fish, she follows the San Jose Sharks. She makes her home in Cody, Wyoming. See her upcoming books on her website:www.lindaraesande.com.

In small separate bowl combine , 1 and 1/2 Cup of Flour , sprinkle of Salt and 3/4 of a Teaspoon of Baking Soda

Pour the Dry into the Wet and mix well till just incorporated .

Add 1 Cup of Coconut Milk , and stir till well blended .

At this point we separated the batter into 3 so we could colour it , just simple food colouring .

Zach chose tree cupcake holders , hence the colours above .

Batter is enough for 12 cupcakes. We just dumped each colour in by spoonfuls . Place in a 350 degrees oven for about 22 minutes. (preheated )

We made our own Crushed Candy Cane Icing , and Coloured Sugar . The sugar is so easy , white sugar and food colouring mixed with it . The Icing is some Butter , Icing Sugar and Vanilla , with Crushed Candy Cane Bits .

Close up of the Candy Cane Icing .

Once cooled, he iced the top and went to town with the sugar sprinkles.

This is my variation on Vanilla Cupcakes. There are so many others ones out there , this is just my take .

From a land long-divided by prejudice and fear, comes the story of Ian Troy, a magic-user bred for war. Reviled for their deadly addiction to magic, Ian’s people suffer in slavery. Drugs suppress their wills and their magic. Their once great empire lies buried, lost beneath the sand and a thousand years of secrets—until Ian unearths the Crown of Stones. Ignorant of its true purpose, Ian wields the circlet’s power and brings peace to the realms, but at a terrible price.
A decade later, scarred and guilt-ridden, Ian has rejected his heritage and his magic. Old enemies have resurfaced and new ones have risen to seize the Crown of Stones. Unwittingly drawn into the conflict, Ian’s addiction reawakened.
Caught in a web of obsession and lies, Ian returns to the past to save the future in a time-spanning journey fraught with loss, betrayal, torture, friendship and love. His beliefs and convictions, his knowledge of magic and history are challenged as Ian unlocks the mysteries of The Crown of Stones. Despite devastating personal consequences, he clings to a hope for peace. But how much is he willing to sacrifice? How much burden can he carry? And how far can a man fall before he can’t rise again?

Ian Troy is one of the Shinree, a fallen people with an inherent addiction to magic. Scorned and reviled for the deadly side of their spells, the Shinree are bred as slaves. Their magic is suppressed by drugs and used only as it serves the purposes of the other races.
Descended from a long line of soldiers, Ian is conscripted into the Rellan army and made to fight in their longstanding conflict against the ruthless Langorian invaders. The downfall of Rella imminent, Ian goes against orders and turns to the Crown of Stones, an ancient Shinree relic of untold power. Ignorant of its true purpose, Ian uses the crown to end the war, and pays a terrible price.
A decade later, still tortured by the aftermath of that day, Ian lives as a bounty hunter in self-imposed exile. Having renounced his magical heritage, he curbs his obsession with a steady stream of wine and regret. He struggles to put it all behind him, until a fateful encounter with a pretty assassin brings Ian’s past crashing into the present.
Targeted by a rogue Shinree, and a ruthless old enemy, Ian is forced to use magic again. His deadly addiction is rekindled and his life of isolation is brought to a swift end. With the land he gave up everything to protect once more in jeopardy, and his people’s future at stake, Ian becomes embroiled in a violent race for control of the Crown of Stones. To save the realms and those he cares for, Ian must embrace the thing he fears most: his own power.

Magic doesn’t wound the same as a sword.
The story of Ian Troy continues in Magic-Scars, the second installment in C. L. Schneider’s riveting epic fantasy trilogy, The Crown of Stones.
Captured by his old enemy, King Draken of Langor, Shinree magic user Ian Troy was sentenced to prison. Tortured and drugged, robbed of his will, his memories, and his magic, Ian was made to do unspeakable things. Rescued, as his body slowly rids itself of the drug, Ian realizes he has returned to an unfamiliar world gripped with fear. In the wake of his fall, those he cared for were left to their own grim fates. Draken has seized control of the realms and named himself High King. His brutal rein has sparked a desperate rebellion that Ian now finds himself a part of. His one task: recover and repair the Crown of Stones, in hopes it will tip the balance in the revolution that is brewing. In pursuit of the reason behind the artifact’s strange loss of magic, Ian is driven to release an explosion of retribution and power that leaves him irrevocably scarred.
Struggling to reconcile the man he has become with the man he once was, Ian strives to understand the growing number of magic-scars adorning his body. He searches for the truth behind his link to the Crown of Stones and uncovers shocking secrets buried for generations beneath the sand. To become the weapon the resistance needs, he must assume responsibility for his magical inheritance. But can he curb the destructive appetite that comes with it?
The price of Ian’s magic and his addiction have never been higher.

No other Shinree has borne as much of magic's weight, its pleasure, or its guilt.
The fate of Ian Troy is revealed in the final installment of C. L. Schneider's epic fantasy trilogy, The Crown of Stones.
In one fell swoop, the resistance was shattered. Lives were taken. Hope was lost. Peace slipped like grains of sand through his fingers. So did the Crown of Stones. Now, forced into hiding, Ian Troy grapples for a way to save the realm—and free its people—from the sadistic clutches of Jem Reth; Mirra’kelan’s new self-appointed emperor. Plagued with the knowledge of a tragic future, he strives to influence events and save those he cares for. But his magic has betrayed him, and Fate has other plans.
Marked by the crown, hindered by the transformation spell contained within, each cast brings Ian one step closer to becoming more beast than man. Each move brings the death and destruction foretold in his vision inexplicably nearer. With Langor on the brink of war, and King Malaq’s plan for peace hanging in the balance, Ian returns to the ancient past; seeking an end to the eldring spell and a means to thwart Jem’s growing domination. What he finds there sets off a chain of revelations that leads Ian places he never thought to go.
Entrusted with the future of his race, Ian becomes the linchpin for lasting change. But how much weight can one man carry? And how much is he willing to sacrifice in the name of peace?

Born in a small Kansas town on the Missouri river,I grew up in a house of avid readers and overflowing bookshelves. My first full-length novel took shape while I was still in high school, on a typewriter in my parent's living room. My main focus is adult epic and urban fantasy, but I also dabble in the occasional science fiction or post-apocalyptic story.
Though I have been writing all my life, The Crown of Stones: Magic-Price was my first published novel. Completing the trilogy has been an amazing experience. While I am sad to see Ian and his friends go, I'm also looking forward to breaking new ground.
You can learn more about me and my work at clschneiderauthor.com where you can read reviews, excerpts, sneak peeks and teasers, subscribe to my newsletter, and follow my journey as an indie author on my blog, "Heading Down The Yellow Brick Road". I love to chat with fellow authors and readers, so please connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Google+, where I spend most of my time talking about books, zombies, coffee, and the wonderful roller coaster of a writer's life.

Shadow of the Drill By Rhani D'Chae Genre: Thriller, Suspense

A brutal experience transforms an unproven young tough into a ruthless killing machine.

For fifteen years he waited, building his body into an unstoppable weapon so that vengeance would be had through the strength of his will and the power of his hands.

On the bloodstained streets of a northwestern city, the enforcer known as the Drill stalks his prey. Judge, Jury, and Executioner; he seeks out those who target the weak, condemning them to the kind of justice that has made him a legend.

Donny’s body sagged against the restraints that held him upright in the chair. He no longer had the strength to scream, which was fine by Decker. The noise had begun to irritate him, and he was glad that it had finally stopped.

A glance at his watch told him that it was five minutes after ten, which was not bad. Another fifteen or twenty minutes would give him what he needed with plenty of time to spare. Then a quick shower, a couple of phone calls, and he would be ready to hit the streets.

He knelt down with his hands resting on Donny’s knees. The man had not opened his eyes in almost ten minutes, but Decker knew that he was listening. “Donny, I’m gettin’ tired, and my back hurts. It’s been a long day, and I hear the shower callin’ my name. We both know you’re lyin’, so just tell me where the key is and we can be done.”

He waited for the requested information, but his prisoner did not respond. “It’s over, man,” he said finally. “You broke the faith, and I can’t let it pass. If I did, word would leak that I actually do have a speck or two of compassion and that’s the last thing I need. Every dipshit on the strip would start thinkin’ they’re good enough to play me, which would make my life a living hell. I have enough to do without spendin’ my time defendin’ my reputation as a heartless bastard. So . . . you gotta go. Now you can go easy, or you can go hard. It’s up to you.” He yawned, rolling his left shoulder to ease a minor twinge while Donny protested frantically in useless denial.

“Look . . .” Decker kept his voice reasonable. “I talked to the bartender, and he fingered you. He’s seen you in the bar often enough to know who you are, and I’d told him when you were comin’ in.” He stood up and reached for his coffee cup.

“He remembers what time you got in, but it’s not the time I told you to be there. It’s not even close. So I have to ask myself - why would Donny be in the bar an hour and a half early? And then you say you met my investigator, and everything went as planned . . . except for one little thing.”

He leaned close, his face inches from his prisoner’s. “Do you know what that one thing was, Donny? Do you have any ideas?”

Donny shook his head vigorously, his mouth working without sound. His body felt as if it was on fire, with the burns on his back from Decker’s lighter a constant source of suffering. He was close to breaking, but resolved to fight for as long as he possibly could. He had betrayed Decker for a reason, and if he broke then both the betrayal and its consequences would be for nothing. His only hope was to die before he spilled everything, and he prayed desperately to whichever God it was that listened to low-life, panhandling, purse-snatching, garbage-grubbing street trash to take him quickly.

Rhani D'Chae is a visually disabled writer who was born and raised in Tacoma, WA. Because of her failing eyesight, she no longer reads as much as she used to, but she does enjoy falling into the worlds created by other Indie authors as often as hre vision will allow. Shadow of the Drill is her first published novel, and is the first in a series that revolves around an unrepentant enforcer and the violent life that he leads.

She enjoys chatting with readers and fellow writers via Social Media sites, and loves getting comments and other input from those who have read her work. She is on Facebook, and also on Twitter, @rhanidchae. Also, if you have the time, please stop by her blog: rhanidchae.wordpress.com.

Earth Escape is a sci-fi thriller set in the very near future, bordering on a dystopian age where geopolitical powers on Earth are edging toward nuclear war, and meanwhile, the interstellar ship, Evolution, and its captain, Jim Tale and his Ai companion, CASS, are light years away in search of a new home and answers to the dilemma facing mankind. Was it the Big Bang, Divine creation or were we put here for reasons we have forgotten? In this thrilling space odyssey, Jim Tale, a misfit - a man haunted by demons of his past and plagued by these existential questions, faces the most brutal truths about who we are and the creation of the cosmos and the role he must play if he hopes to save Earth from an imminent apocalypse.

​That about sums it up for me. Besides the fact that I have a passion to unleash a world of ideas inside of me, my purpose for writing is to inspire others, to remind them that good does prevail over bad, to entertain the minds of readers, and to spark fires all over the world which introduce ideas, which incite activism, evolution for change and not an abiding faith to crusty old mediocrity; and ultimately, to repeat the message which sometimes gets lost in the miasma of life - that no dream is too big to realize - no matter what others may say the stars can be reached by those who want to.

"Everyone enjoys the escape. The thrill of living vicariously through the eyes and skin of characters who do things we may never do, or who in fact, mirror parts of our own lives, or who taunt us to live up to our ideals, our potentials - to our dreams. I write because it's a thrill, because coffee is cheap and I can sit and drink it all day while conjuring up stories for readers to enjoy. Reading is soul food. It opens new horizons to us, it stretches the mind and it reminds us that no dream is too big to realize."

There's Danny. Danny is a golden boy in every way. He has dreamy blue eyes and blonde hair that always looks perfect, even when it’s windblown or been stuck under a football helmet. He’s the boy every girl crushes on. The boy I get into trouble with, the boy I fight with, the hot quarterback no girl can resist. Being with Danny is like being on an adventure. He has a bright, contagious smile and abs to die for.

Equally crush-worthy is Phillip. Adorable, sweet Phillip, who I have known since birth. Phillip has dark hair, a perfect smile, brown eyes, and the sexiest voice I have ever heard. He’s the boy I talk to every night before I go to sleep. The boy who rescues me, the boy who can read my mind, the boy who is always there for me, the boy who tries to keep me out of trouble, the boy who irritatingly keeps getting hotter, and whose strong arms always seem to find their way around me. And when he gives me that grin, I can never say no.

One boy will give me my very first kiss.

One boy will teach me to make out.

One boy will take me to prom.

And, finally, one boy will ask me to marry him.

They will both be my best friends.

But only one of them will be the boy I fall in love with.

Only one of them is That Boy.

*This is a story about friendships that span from grade school through college, and there is no love triangle.

******

That Wedding:

The gorgeous engagement ring on my finger mimics my happiness.

I feel so sparkly, glittery, and full of promise, because I absolutely know he's that boy.

The boy I want to marry. My prince. My happily ever after.

But then our pastor starts asking lots of questions.

His parents say I haven’t dealt with my past.

I have horrible wedding disaster dreams.

I can’t find the perfect dress.

I have to manipulate him to get my way.

An old boyfriend asks me to run away with him.

My best friend says I'm going to ruin everything.

And forever starts to sound like a really long time.

Which totally freaks me out and makes me question everything I know.

Should best friends get married?

Will my past affect our relationship?

Are my horrible dreams a warning?

Will I ever find a dress?

Could his sexiness be clouding my judgment?

Am I going to ruin everything?

Or is it just a case of cold feet?

And then I have to decide. Am I willing to give up on true love forever, or am I going to listen to my heart and marry him?

******

That Baby:

It’s amazing how a few little words can change your life.

It starts with a simple I love you.

It’s made official with I do.

And becomes incredible with I’m pregnant.

Jadyn is the girl I love. The girl I’ve always loved.

Our lives are like single threads meticulously woven together—the result an exquisite tapestry of past, present, and future.

Keatyn Unscripted is a behind-the-scenes look at the making of The Keatyn Chroniclesseries. Come live in Keatyn’s world a little longer and discover when and how Aiden learned Keatyn’s real identity in pivotal new scenes from his point of view. Get inside Vincent’s head to learn what started his obsession and read new scenes spanning the entire series. Read Jillian’s first version of the series and its alternate ending. You’ll also find a discussion of the original character profiles, deleted scenes, scripts, music, and clothing that were such an important part of the series and which held many clues as to which boy Keatyn would ultimately choose.

Meet Jillian

Jillian is a USA TODAY bestselling author. She writes fun romances with characters her readers fall in love with, from the boy next door in the That Boy trilogy to the daughter of a famous actress in The Keatyn Chroniclesseries.

She's married to her college sweetheart, has two adult children, two Labs named Cali and Camber, and lives in a small Florida beach town. When she's not working, she likes to decorate, paint, doodle, shop for shoes, watch football, and go to the beach.